Side Jobs are a Win-Win for Employees and Empoyers

Nowadays about a third of workers have side jobs, and while the extra money it brings is a great benefit, most people have other motivations for holding down side gigs.

Adobe’s Future of Work Study has shown 88 per cent of respondents who have a side gig do it for their pay check. 60 per cent do it for recognition, 51 per cent do it in hopes their work has a social impact, and almost 80 per cent of these workers say that having more than one job has made them happier and more optimistic.

David Mulqueen is a project manager at a digital marketing agency, but on week nights and weekends he runs his own snowboarding instruction business; “snowboarding is my passion, and I love teaching others how to snowboard.”

Many companies are discouraging of their employees getting side jobs, as they fear this will affect their employee retention, however, over 70 per cent of “moonlighters” do not plan on leaving their main job to turn their side gig into full-time work. As side jobs are usually related to a passion, a hobby, or even social work, 64 per cent of workers still find themselves more involved in their careers and “day jobs.”

Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder, believes employees who pursue different projects and opportunities on the side are an asset to companies. As they are working outside office hours, they are constantly learning new skills – which they can then bring back to the company and improve processes. They also have the innovative, proactive, and creative skills employers are always looking for, so instead of frowning upon these workers, companies should encourage more employees to do the same.

Mulqueen summarises it perfectly; “you take so much passion and pride into your side hustle that it energises you, and that energy flows over into your day job.”